Electronic Immigration Cards in Testing Phase

Electronic Immigration Cards in Testing Phase

The government of Antigua and Barbuda is moving forward with plans to introduce an electronic E.D. card system to streamline the immigration process and reduce wait times for arriving passengers.

Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, Lionel Hurst, confirmed that testing of the system has begun, with a trial conducted two weeks ago.

“There was a test of one system two Saturdays ago. It worked well, but the Cabinet still has not decided on who the vendor will be,” Hurst said. “There were at least two other teams that presented to the Cabinet, and I think they are still being evaluated because we want to ensure we are getting the most for the dollars spent.”

The electronic system is expected to speed up the arrival process by allowing passengers to submit their details digitally before landing. Upon arrival, immigration officers would be able to access the information instantly, reducing the need for manual processing.

“The idea is that just a wave of the passport to one of the lenses of a camera connected to the system would alert immigration that the person has already filled out the E.D. card electronically,” Hurst explained.

Officials say the government is keen to finalize a vendor soon, as the project is seen as a priority for improving the efficiency of the airport.

“There is a deadline approaching that requires us to make a decision so that the accumulation of persons in the immigration lounge, particularly on busy days, can be addressed quickly,” Hurst added.

Further tests are expected before a final selection is made, with an announcement anticipated in the coming weeks.

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